Adoption and Guardianship in Wisconsin

Adoption establishes a legal parent and child relationship when the adopting parent is not a child's biological or birth parent. Adoptive parents have the same rights and obligations as a child's birth parents.

Legal Guardianship is another way to provide a child with permanency. A relative, a person who is kin, or a foster parent (in certain circumstances) can become the legal guardian when it is determined that adoption or reunification with one's parents may not be the best option for a child.

Adoption Assistance Amendments can be requested when an adoptive parent feels the special care needs of their child has increased since adoption. This page also has access to the forms required to request an Adoption Assistance Amendment.

Use the map to find the contact information for the SNAP Coordinator in your county. To find out when the regional SNAP information meetings are happening in your region, click on Register for a SNAP Informational Meeting! at the bottom of your county contact information.

Guardianship

Kinship Care is a program to help support a child who lives outside of his or her home with a relative. Sometimes this relative is a guardian of the child. Learn more about kinship care eligibility and who to contact to become a kinship care provider.

Guardianship is a way for children in foster care to reach permanence. Adoption or reunification with one's parents may not be the best options for a child. A relative, a person who is kin, or a foster parent (in certain circumstances) can become the legal guardian. Some guardians may be eligible for a subsidy for caring for a child.